Activision Sells More Than $115 Million of Guitar Hero(R) III: Legends of Rock(TM) in First Seven Days
SANTA MONICA, Calif., Nov 06, 2007 (BUSINESS WIRE) -- Activision, Inc. (NASDAQ:ATVI) announced today that consumer sell through for Guitar Hero(R) III: Legends of Rock(TM) exceeded $115 million within seven days of the game's North American release, making it the largest single product launch in the company's history. The game was released on October 28, 2007, and will launch in Europe on November 23, 2007.
The Guitar Hero franchise has remained the #1 best-selling franchise in the U.S. through September, according to the NPD Group. The franchise has sold more than six million units worldwide to date, according to The NPD Group, Charttrack and Gfk.
Guitar Hero has expanded well beyond video games and is one of the biggest entertainment franchises in the marketplace today. The release of Guitar Hero III: Legends of Rock marks the franchise's debut on PLAYSTATION(R)3 computer entertainment system and Wii(TM) home video game system from Nintendo, making it the only music based game on all console platforms.
Competitively, Guitar Hero III: Legends of Rock is set to significantly widen its lead in the market with strong early consumer response well in advance of the holiday season, an unprecedented global supply of product, record retail support with more than 30,000 in-store kiosks, an unparalleled number of music tracks, a highly competitive price point and the only game in its genre available worldwide.
"Guitar Hero III is the game that everyone is talking about. It is the only video game to make the Toys "R" Us Hot Toy list for 2007 and Toy Wishes' Hot Dozen 2007, which forecast the most popular holiday gifts of the season. Despite having significantly increased our production capabilities for the holiday, there is still a high likelihood that we will not be able to meet demand for this game on every platform," stated Robert Kotick, Chairman and CEO, Activision, Inc.
Guitar Hero III: Legends of Rock will offer a robust slate of new downloadable online content. The title's first video game song pack, The Interscope Soundtrack Pack, was released at launch exclusively for the Xbox 360(TM) video game and entertainment system from Microsoft and includes songs from Marilyn Manson, AFI and Flyleaf. In November, Activision will release three new downloadable video game song packs for the Xbox 360 and PLAYSTATION(R)3 computer entertainment system. Each downloadable pack contains three individual songs.
Guitar Hero III: Legends of Rock includes explosive new content and features including a multiplayer action-inspired battle mode, grueling boss battles, a host of exclusive unlockable content and visually stunning rock venues. Expanded online multiplayer game modes allow consumers worldwide to compete head-to-head for true legendary rock status. For the first time ever, Guitar Hero fans are also able to thrash and burn with new wireless guitar controllers available for each platform. The game features a star-studded soundtrack including master tracks by such legendary artists as Aerosmith, Guns N' Roses, The Rolling Stones, Beastie Boys and Pearl Jam as well as original songs by guitar icons Slash and Tom Morello. The sequel also offers downloadable content from some of the most popular European bands.
Headquartered in Santa Monica, California, Activision, Inc. is a leading worldwide developer, publisher and distributor of interactive entertainment and leisure products. Founded in 1979, Activision posted net revenues of $1.5 billion for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2007.
Activision maintains operations in the U.S., Canada, the United Kingdom, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Sweden, Spain, the Netherlands, Australia, Japan and South Korea. More information about Activision and its products can be found on the company's World Wide Web site, which is located at www.activision.com.
Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-looking Statements: Information in this press release that involves Activision's expectations, plans, intentions or strategies regarding the future are forward-looking statements that are not facts and involve a number of risks and uncertainties. In this release they are identified by references to dates after the date of this release and words such as "will," "will be," "remains," "to be," "plans," "believes", "may", "expects," "intends," and similar expressions.
These risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to, sales of Activision's titles, shifts in consumer spending trends, the seasonal and cyclical nature of the interactive game market, Activision's ability to predict consumer preferences among competing hardware platforms (including next-generation hardware), declines in software pricing, product returns and price protection, product delays, retail acceptance of Activision's products, adoption rate and availability of new hardware and related software, industry competition, rapid changes in technology and industry standards, protection of proprietary rights, maintenance of relationships with key personnel, customers, vendors and third-party developers, international economic and political conditions, integration of recently acquired subsidiaries and identification of suitable future acquisition opportunities, limitations on our ability to issue stock and options and foreign exchange rate changes.
Other factors that could cause Activision's actual future results to differ materially from those expressed in the forward-looking statements set forth in this release include, without limitation, the further implementation, acceptance and effectiveness of the remedial measures recommended or adopted by the special sub-committee of independent directors established in July 2006 to review Activision's historical stock option granting practices, the board and Activision; the outcome of the SEC's formal investigation and the derivative litigation filed in July 2006 against certain current and former directors and officers of Activision relating to Activision's stock option granting practices, the possibility that additional claims and proceedings will be commenced, including additional stockholder litigation, employee litigation, and additional action by the SEC and/or other regulatory agencies, other litigation (unrelated to stock option granting practices), and the risks identified in Activision's most recent annual report on Form 10-K and recent reports on Form 8-K. The forward-looking statements in this release are based upon information available to Activision as of the date of this release, and Activision assumes no obligations to update any such forward-looking statement. Forward-looking statements believed to be true when made may ultimately prove to be incorrect. These statements are not guarantees of future performance and are subject to risks, uncertainties and other factors, some of which are beyond our control and may cause actual results to differ materially from our current expectations.
SOURCE: Activision, Inc.
Activision, Inc. Maryanne Lataif, Vice President, Corporate Communications 310-255-2704 mlataif@activision.com or Kristin Southey, Vice President, IR and Treasury 310-255-2635 ksouthey@activision.com
Copyright Business Wire 2007
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